Thomas Keay Tapling (30 October 1855 – 11 April 1891) was an English businessman and politician. He played first-class cricket and was also an eminent philatelist who formed one of the greatest stamp collections of his era. Early life Tapling was born in Dulwich, London. He was educated first at home and then at Harrow School from age 15. Later he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating BA and LL.B in 1880 and MA and LL.M in 1883. His father, also Thomas Tapling, was a businessman who made a fortune from the manufacture of carpets and household furnishings. His mother was Annie Elizabeth Tapling (née Keay). Tapling originally intended a career in law, and he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple as a barrister. In 1882, however, Thomas Tapling senior died and his son was forced to drop his plans and take over the family business of Thomas Tapling & Son. This does not appear to have been a burden and the business prospered and expanded, providing him with the money to travel and build his stamp collection. He had a reputation as an enlightened employer, who emphasised temperance and thrift to his employees. Cricket Tapling played first-class cricket at the University of Cambridge, turning out for Trinity College, Trinity College Long Vacation Club and Cambridge University Long Vacation Club. He played for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Cambridge University in 1886, a match which has been retrospectively rated first-class by some sources; it was his sole appearance in top-class cricket. He was a right-handed batter and a wicket-keeper. Tapling was invited to join George Vernon's team in the 1889/90 tour of Ceylon and India. He accepted but was late joining the squad after a close friend was taken ill in Italy and he opted to stay with him. Tapling arrived in India just before Christmas 1889 and played in six matches between then and the end of February. Politics Tapling was a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for the Harborough Division of Leicestershire from 1886 to 1891. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Trade. Philately Tapling began collecting stamps as a schoolboy in 1865. During the 1870s and 1880s he purchased existing collections from other philatelists, including those of William Image, W.A.S. Westoby, Edward B. Evans, and Gustave and Martial Caillebotte. By 1887 his collection was second only to that of Philippe Ferrari de